Homilist Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 1. He provides for His guests a feast in the midst of their enemies. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies."(1) The life of the true is a feast. The figure implies three things. A variety in the pleasant. Variety is ever the characteristic and the charm of banquets. How boundlessly varied the blessings which heaven has spread out for the enjoyment of the good on this earth. There are the sensuous, the intellectual, the social, and the religious. The figure implies an abundance in the pleasant. It is almost essential to a feast that the provision should be ample. Meagreness and scarcity are carefully avoided at banquets. How immeasurable are the blessings provided for the good. The figure implies a social participation in the pleasant. A feast is not for one but for many, and generally for those of such kindred sentiment as will heighten the enjoyment. Life is social. (2) The life of the tree is a feast prepared by God. "Thou preparest." Not only does He prepare the feast for His guests, but He prepares His guests for the feast. The banquet, however sumptuous and varied in its provisions, is worthless to all but those who are inclined to participate, and who have the necessary appetite. But the point here is that the feast is spread out in the "presence of enemies." A good man has ever had enemies, and ever will. David had them.They now surrounded him as he was feasting at the table of God's providence. There is something gratifying to a man in feasting before enemies. (1) There is a gratification of the feeling of independence. Enjoying a banquet with the eye of an enemy on you, you seem to dare him to do his worst. You have the happy feeling that unrighteous malice cannot injure you. (2) There is a gratification of the feeling of benevolence. Sitting down, enjoying a banquet sufficient for all your enemies, and to which they were invited but would not enter, you feel that as they look on there is a splendid opportunity for them to learn their folly, relent, and attend the entertainment. (3) There is a gratification of our religious feeling. You feel, as you enjoy the rich banquet provided for you, that you have an opportunity of showing your enemies the wonderful bountihood of the Master of the feast. You give Him the praise. As a Host. 2. He follows His guests constantly with His goodness. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." 3. He entertains His guests forever in His house. "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." What a house is His. How vast, how grand, how infinitely numerous and elegant its apartments! The universe is His house. "In my Father's house are many mansions," etc. To dwell in this house forever, no longer a prodigal in a far country, no longer a wearied pilgrim in the desert, but a son settled down for ever in the mansions of the Father. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. |
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